Sullivan Community Toy Drive Helps 106 Families This Christmas

The Sullivan Community Toy Drive concluded its annual efforts on Monday, Dec. 18 as 106 families with 243 children were helped through local efforts to have a brighter Christmas holiday.

Natalie Counts, event co-organizer, reported Monday that some 25 volunteers along with the Sullivan Fire Department helped collect toys and compile the gifts for distribution in a office donated by Jim Biermann, on Missouri Avenue.

“We had our families register at the Meramec Community Mission, as has been done in years previous, from November through Dec. 5. Once the registration list was completed we were able to use the verification to collect and present the gifts on Monday,” said Counts. “We had 106 families and with that being said we had all but 20 families that remained to be sponsored.”

Counts reported more than $1,000 in donations were presented this year along with a large number of toys.

Toys were donated at several area drop-off locations that included: All That Jazz Dace Studio, American Family Insurance, Anytime Fitness, Athletico, Bank of Sullivan, Clark’s Pharmacy, Denny’s, Du Kum Inn, First Community National Bank, First State Community Bank, Frick’s Market, Great Clips, Lowe’s, Meramec Nursing Center, Mid West Dental, Peoples Bank, Shoe Sensation, Starbucks, Sullivan Family Dentistry, Sullivan Independent News, Sullivan Sports Fitness, Sully’s Ace Hardware, Was-Mart, West Brother’s, Sullivan Chamber, Missouri Baptist Hospital-Sullivan, Sullivan Fire District, Fidelity Communications, KTUI, Condition One Crossfit and Sullivan Precision Metal Finishing.

“The community once again came together providing phenomenal donations for the toy drive,” said Shauna Speaks, Chamber Director and Toy Drive volunteer. “We had great support this year and were also able to use some funds collected in previous years ti assist in this years toy drive.”